Hebe plant named ‘HOP104’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Hebe  plant named ‘HOP104’, characterized by its compact and upright to outwardly spreading and uniformly mounding plant habit; freely branching habit; dark green-colored leaves; freely flowering habit with numerous purple-colored flowers that resist fading; and long flowering period.

Botanical designation: Hebe Comm. ex. Juss.

Cultivar denomination: ‘HOP104’.

An European Community Plant Breeder's Rights application for the instantplant was filed by the Applicant/Assignee, Firma E. Hopmans ofWieringerwerf, The Netherlands on Apr. 20, 2021, application number2021/1071. Foreign priority is not claimed to this application.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Hebeplant, botanically known as Hebe Comm. ex. Juss., typically grown as apotted plant and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘HOP104’.

The new Hebe plant is a product of a planned breeding program conductedby the Inventor in Wieringerwerf, The Netherlands. The objective of thebreeding program is to develop new compact Hebe plants with attractiveflowers that resist fading.

The new Hebe plant originated from a cross-pollination in April, 2016 inWieringerwerf, The Netherlands of a proprietary selection of Hebe Comm.ex. Juss. identified as code number 146A, not patented, as the female,or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Hebe Comm. ex. Juss.identified as code number 212, not patented, as the male, or pollen,parent. The new Hebe plant was discovered and selected by the Inventoras a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the statedcross-pollination grown in a controlled greenhouse environment inWieringerwerf, The Netherlands in October, 2016.

Asexual reproduction of the new Hebe plant by terminal stem cuttings ina controlled environment in Wieringerwerf, The Netherlands sinceFebruary, 2017 has shown that the unique features of this new Hebe plantare stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Hebe have not been observed under all possiblecombinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. Thephenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditionssuch as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variancein genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘HOP104’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘HOP104’ as a new and distinct Hebe plant:

-   -   1. Compact and upright to outwardly spreading and uniformly        mounding plant habit.    -   2. Freely branching habit.    -   3. Dark green-colored leaves.    -   4. Freely flowering habit with numerous purple-colored flowers        that resist fading.    -   5. Long flowering period.

Plants of the new Hebe differ primarily from plants of the female parentselection in flower color as plants of the new Hebe have purple-coloredflowers whereas plants of the female parent selection have pink-coloredflowers. In addition, plants of the new Hebe have smaller leaves thanplants of the female parent selection.

Plants of the new Hebe differ primarily from plants of the male parentselection in plant habit as plants of the new Hebe are not as compact asplants of the male parent selection. In addition, plants of the new Hebehave longer inflorescences than plants of the male parent selection.

Plants of the new Hebe can be compared to plants of Hebe Comm. ex. Juss.‘Zakita’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the newHebe differ primarily from plants of ‘Zakita’ in inflorescence length asplants of the new Hebe have shorter inflorescences than plants of‘Zakita’. In addition, plants of the new Hebe are more compact thanplants of ‘Zakita’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearanceof the Hebe plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the actualcolors of the new Hebe plant. The photograph is a side perspective viewof a typical flowering plant of ‘HOP104’ grown in a container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Plants used for the aforementioned photograph and following descriptionwere grown in 13-cm containers during the summer and early autumn in aglass-covered greenhouse in Wieringerwerf, The Netherlands and undercultural practices typical of commercial Hebe production. During theproduction of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 16C to 20C andnight temperatures ranged from 12C to 16C. Plants were pinched one timeabout one month after planting and were five months old when thephotograph and the description were taken. In the following description,color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society ColourChart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionarysignificance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Hebe Comm. ex. Juss. ‘HOP104’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Hebe Comm.            ex. Juss. identified as code number 146A, not patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Hebe Comm.            ex. Juss. identified as code number 212, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal stern cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About ten days at            temperatures about 18C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 14 days at            temperatures about 20C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 40 days            at temperatures about 18C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 50 days            at temperatures about 20C.        -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fleshy; typically            white to brown in color, actual color of the roots is            dependent on substrate composition, water quality,            fertilizer type and formulation, substrate temperature and            physiological age of roots.        -   Rooting habit.—Moderately freely branching; medium density.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant type.—Evergreen perennial shrub.        -   Plant and growth habit.—Compact and upright to outwardly            spreading and uniformily mounding plant habit; vigorous            growth habit and moderate to rapid growth rate.        -   Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 23.3            cm.        -   Plant height, soil level to top of floral plane.—About 24.1            cm.        -   Plant width.—About 36.7 cm.        -   Lateral branch description.—Branching habit: Freely            branching habit with about eight primary branches, each with            about nine secondary branches; pinching enhances lateral            branching potential. Length (excluding inflorescence): About            9.8 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm. Internode length: About            1.7 cm. Strength: Strong. Aspect: Erect to about 60 degrees            from vertical. Texture and luster: Mostly smooth and            glabrous; at the internodes, moderately pubescent; slightly            glossy. Color, developing: Close to 144B. Color, developed:            Close to 146C; at the internodes, close to 176A.-   Leaf description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, simple.        -   Length.—About 5.5 cm.        -   Width.—About 2 cm.        -   Shape.—Elliptic to oblong; occasionally, slightly obovate.        -   Apex.—Apiculate with a bluntly acute tip to bluntly acute.        -   Base.—Cuneate.        -   Margin.—Entire; slightly revolute and slightly and coarsely            undulate; not lobed.        -   Texture and luster, upper surface.—Smooth, glabrous; not            rugose; moderately glossy.        -   Texture and luster, lower surface.—Smooth, glabrous; not            rugose; slightly glossy.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.        -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to NN137B.            Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 138B; towards the            margins, slightly tinged with close to 176B; midvein, close            to 148B. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Slightly            darker than 147A; venation, close to 147B. Fully expanded            leaves, lower surface: Close 147B; venation, close to a            blend of 147B and 147C.        -   Petioles.—Length: About 2 mm. Diameter: About 2 mm by            4.5 mm. Strength: Strong. Texture and luster, upper and            lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; slightly glossy. Color,            upper surface: Close to 145A tinged with close to 177D to            lighter than 177D. Color, lower surface: Close to 145A.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower arrangement and shape.—Single campanulate flowers            arranged on dense axillary racemes; flowers face mostly            outwardly.        -   Flowering habit.—Freely flowering habit with about 130            flowers developing per inflorescence and about 15,000            flowers developing per plant during the flowering season.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Natural flowering season.—Plants begin flowering about 140            days after planting; plants flower continuously from the            summer into the autumn in The Netherlands.        -   Flower longevity.—Flowers last about one week on the plant;            flowers not persistent.        -   Flower buds.—Length: About 6 mm. Diameter: About 2 mm.            Shape: Oblong. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; matte.            Color: Developing sepals, close to 138A; developing petals,            close to a blend of N87A and N88A.        -   Inflorescence height (length).—About 7.5 cm.        -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 3.2 cm.        -   Flower diameter.—About 7 mm by 7 mm.        -   Flower height.—About 1 cm.        -   Throat diameter.—About 1.5 mm.        -   Tube length.—About 3 mm.        -   Tube diameter.—About 2.25 mm.        -   Petals.—Quantity and arrangement: Four arranged in a single            whorl; petals fused about 42.5% of the petal length from the            base. Length: About 7 mm. Width: About 2.5 mm. Shape:            Narrowly obovate to narrowly oblong; moderately concave.            Apex, upper petal: Obtuse. Apex, lateral and lower petals:            Bluntly acute. Margin: Entire; moderately involute; not            undulate. Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces:            Smooth, glabrous; slightly glossy. Texture and luster,            throat and tube: Smooth, glabrous; slightly glossy. Color:            When opening, upper surface: Close to N87A. When opening,            lower surface: Close to N87A; distally, close to N87B. Fully            opened, upper surface: Close to a blend of N87A and N88A;            venation, close to a blend of N87A and N88A; color does not            change with subsequent development. Fully opened, lower            surface: Close to N87A; venation, close to N87A; color does            not change with subsequent development. Throat: Close to            N87A; venation, close to N87A. Tube: Close to a N87A and            N87B; venation, close N87A and N87B.        -   Sepals.—Quantity and arrangement: Four arranged in a single            whorl and fused at the base. Length: About 3 mm. Width:            About 1.25 mm. Shape: Narrowly ovate. Apex: Acute. Base:            Cuneate, fused. Margin: Entire. Texture and luster, upper            and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color: When            opening, upper surface: Close to 143A. When opening, lower            surface: Close to 143A tinged with close to 72A. Fully            opened, upper surface: Close to 137D. Fully opened, lower            surface: Close to 137D tinged with close to 72B.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 9.3 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.            Aspect: About 45 degrees from stem axis. Strength: Strong.            Texture and luster: Densely pubescent; slightly glossy.            Color: Close to 144B.        -   Pedicels.—Length: About 3 mm. Diameter: About 0.5 mm.            Aspect: About 85 degrees from peduncle axis. Strength:            Moderately strong. Texture and luster: Densely pubescent;            matte. Color: Close to 138B.        -   Flower bracts.—Quantity and arrangement: One at the base of            each flower. Length: About 2.5 mm. Width: About 1 mm. Shape:            Narrowly ovate. Apex: Acute. Base: Cuneate. Margin: Entire.            Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,            upper and lower surfaces: Close to 137D.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Two.            Filament length: About 8.5 mm. Filament color: Close to 86A.            Anther size: About 0.75 mm by 2 mm. Anther shape: Oblong.            Anther color: Close to 83B. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen            color: Close to 11D. Pistils: Quantity per flower: One.            Pistil length: About 8.5 mm. Stigma diameter: About 5 mm.            Stigma shape: Club-shaped. Stigma color: Greyish white.            Style length: About 8.45 mm. Style color: Close to 86A.            Ovary color: Close to 143C.        -   Seeds and fruits.—To date, seed and fruit development has            not been observed on plants of the new Hebe.-   Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Hebe have not    been noted to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Hebe    plants.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Hebe have exhibited good    garden performance and to be tolerant to rain, wind, temperatures    ranging from about −7C to about 40C and to be suitable for USDA    Hardiness Zones 8 to 11.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Hebe plant named ‘HOP104’ asillustrated and described.